Comparison of spreadsheet and Promoter models
| |
Spreadsheet models
|
Promoter models
|
| |
|
|
| Features |
|
|
| Flexibility |
High |
Low
|
Risk of error
|
High |
Low |
| Testing |
Usually none / 3rd party tool*
|
Built in Unit/integration tests
|
| Security |
Low |
High
|
User training
|
Low |
Low |
Calculation formulae
|
Must be developed
|
Built in (view in tool tip)
|
Display currency
|
Single Currency
|
Multiple currency
|
Currency adjustment
|
Usually omitted
|
Built in
|
| Periods per year (calculation) |
Usually 2 sometimes 4 |
4 |
| Periods per year (display) |
Usually same as calculation |
Switch between 1, 2 and 4 |
Parametric cost estimate
|
Usually omitted
|
Built in
|
Setting LC/FC ratio
|
Maybe with macro*
|
Built in
|
Setting intitial d/e ratio
|
Maybe with macro* |
Built in |
Forward cover ratios
|
Maybe with macro* |
Built in |
Sensitivity/scenario analysis
|
Built in
|
Built in |
Capacity break even
|
Maybe with macro* |
Built in
|
Audit trail
|
Usually absent
|
Built in |
Goal seeking
|
Built in |
Built in |
Monte Carlo analysis
|
Maybe with macro*
|
Built in |
Tornado diagrams
|
Maybe with macro* |
Built in |
Functional currency
|
Usually ignored*
|
Choice built in
|
Cash waterfall
|
Usually fixed
|
Adjustable |
Units of measurement
|
Manual* |
Built in
|
| Language |
One |
Built in (several)
|
Wire diagram
|
No |
Built in |
Circular references
|
A problem
|
Non existent
|
Help file
|
For spreadsheet only
|
Built in
|
| Tutorial |
For spreadsheet only |
Built in |
| Assumptions, notes, warnings |
No |
Built in |
| Operating phase actual results |
Usually ignored*
|
Built in for Investor version
|
Standard look and feel
|
Usually differs for each user
|
Yes, standard across all models
|
| Database |
No |
Built in for Enterprise version |
| Portfolio |
No |
Built in for Enterprise version |
SaaS version
|
No |
Yes |
| |
|
|
| Typical Development Time |
Formulae and Input
|
Input only
|
| Simple |
1 month
|
2 weeks
|
| Complex |
3 months
|
1 month
|
Notes: Typical development times can vary and may be well outside this range. A simple model will typically contain one technology in a single country. A complex model might typically contain more than one technology (separate legal jurisdictions and currencies) with multiple tranches of loans.
* denotes increased complexity and price